DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson position, Raila Odinga, has intensified his diplomatic campaign ahead of the February 25 elections, meeting African leaders at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Speaking at the summit, Raila underscored the importance of collaboration in addressing Africa’s electricity connectivity challenges, framing the ongoing dialogue as a “foundation for a transformative energy future.”
“This summit is laying the groundwork for a new partnership to transform the continent’s power sector and achieve universal electricity access for 300 million people,” Raila shared on his X platform.
Thank you, H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan, @SuluhuSamia President of the Republic of Tanzania, H.E Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank @AfDB_Group and Ajay Banga President of the World Bank @WorldBank for inviting me to the Africa Heads of States Mission 300…
The summit, which runs until Wednesday, brings together African Heads of State, business leaders, and development partners to chart ambitious reforms aimed at bridging the continent’s power access gap.
Mission 300, the initiative at the summit’s core, is a collaboration between the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and other global players.
It seeks to connect 300 million Africans to reliable and sustainable electricity by 2030, addressing the reality that nearly 600 million people on the continent still lack power.
Raila’s campaign for the AUC top job has seen him crisscross over 20 African capitals, leveraging decades of political experience and deep continental networks.
His pitch to African leaders centers on infrastructure development, energy access, and continental unity.
The election for the AUC chairperson, decided by secret ballot during the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is expected to be hotly contested.
Raila faces stiff competition, but he remains optimistic, buoyed by his ability to rally support from key regional players.
During the summit, Raila expressed gratitude to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, and World Bank President Ajay Banga for their efforts in advancing Africa’s energy agenda.
The initiative is seen as critical to driving development and job creation across Africa, with leaders emphasizing the need for innovative technology and financing solutions to overcome barriers to electricity access.’s development agenda while showcasing his ability to foster partnerships across borders.
